A devastating 13-year study on the Gaza Strip is fueling a coronavirus crisis in Palestine enclave, threatening the lives of nearly two million residents, a new study warns.
In a report published on Wednesday, a group of international researchers described “challenges to access to healthcare and other essential facilities, as well as the economic tax imposed by the virus on individuals and their families ”, a statement said.
The study focused on the dissemination of public health information about COVID-19, the measures taken to prevent the spread, as well as the socioeconomic impact of pandemic.
More than 70 people from different parts of Gaza spoke in the study, Mohammed al-Ruzzi, a researcher from the University of Bath and a member of the research team, told Al Jazeera.
While the report suggests that awareness of the risks and the understanding of public health measures to reduce the number of diseases overall found that there was often “insufficient support to allow people to self-divide. ”.
As a result, public health measures are widely regarded as “more challenging than the disease itself”, the statement said.
These challenges are exacerbated by the ongoing air, land and naval attack by Israel, which was described in the report as “the key feature in a deteriorating humanitarian situation…[resulting in] so unprepared for the local healthcare system, the economy and communities ”.
“Israel’s blockade has destroyed the economy in Gaza, and this is having a significant impact on people’s ability to adhere to lock-in measures while doing so means losing the sources of income. their entry is already limited, “said lead researcher Caitlin Procter of the University of Europe Institute in Florence.
“Many are not seeking medical treatment for other health conditions, driven by the fear of being infected with COVID, and the huge loss of income that would result from a diagnosis. For the same reason, some health care workers were willing to treat COVID patients, and many people with symptoms do not go for testing. “
In addition to the ongoing ban, high unemployment rates, DA funding cuts, and Palestinian political divisions are contributing factors to Gaza’s moribund economy.
“All of these factors have affected the economic situation of the people. When it comes to pandemics and the rules about living at home, many, including day workers, are unable to provide for their families, ”said al-Ruzzi.
Matters Arising
Gaza ‘s health care system is in a state of disrepair and its residents are at war especially vulnerable as they have been living under Israeli – Egyptian blockade since 2007.
The air, land and sea siege has restricted access to essential resources such as health care equipment, pharmaceuticals and building materials, among others.
Implementing effective measures for social pace and quarantine methods has been extremely challenging, researchers said.
According to the latest WHO estimates as of January 31, there have been 51,312 confirmed cases and 522 deaths from COVID-19 in Gaza since reporting began in July 2020.
With the number of cases rising, health officials in Gaza have warned that they can no longer perform coronavirus tests due to a lack of equipment. Last month, they called for urgent action to provide necessary equipment that required the only enclave laboratory capable of examining coronavirus test samples.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees has warned that the Gaza Strip health system could collapse if the number of cases continues to rise.
Israel has been putting a lot of pressure around the world, including from the UN, to help Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to get to vaccines.
While many countries around the world have launched vaccination campaigns – with Israel leading the world – Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are still waiting for the opportunity.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) this week launched COVID vaccines in the West Bank after receiving 2,000 doses from Israel, officials said. The Moderna vaccines are the first batch of the 5,000 beats pledged delivered by Israel to protect medical workers.
But in Gaza and the West Bank, more than 4.5 million Palestinians do not have access to the vaccine.
International actors and the World Health Organization should campaign to make the vaccine accessible to Palestinians and develop plans to increase the capacity of the health sector in Gaza, al-Ruzzi said.
“The pandemic is a clear demonstration of the vulnerability of the public health system. The work of local and international actors is vital here, ”he said.